Venetian blind



Feb. 12, 1952 J. B. WHITTAKER VENETIAN BLIND Filed June 22, 1945 w/ames B W/H I'Ta/(en (Ittorneg Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLIND James B. Whittaker, Rochester, N. Y.

Application June 22, 1945, Serial No. 600,884

3 Claims.

Venetian blinds are an old and common expedient and are used as shades for windows. All such blinds have a series of slats suspended by so-called ladder tapes and the slats can be held at suitable intervals from each other spread over a wide expanse in which the slats can be tilted in one direction to let in the light and in another direction to exclude the light or can be drawn up into a compact mass.

The slats in Venetian blinds as commonly used are all tilted in unison in one direction or the other.

The object of this invention is to divide the slats into two or more groups and connect the slats in each group together in such a manner that the slats of one group can be tilted independently of the slats in the other groups.

Another object of the invention is to suspend the upper slat of the lower group on its center line from the center line of the slat above it.

7 This and other objects of the invention will be illustrated in the drawings, described in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the right hand side of a Venetian blind, the left-hand portion being mostly omitted, it being understood that it is substantially a duplication of what is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the bottom slat or rail of the Venetian blind partly broken away showing the bracket or cleat that can be used for holding the cord by which the lower group of slats can be tilted.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3a:3a: of Figure 1 showing four slats in section and showing a link that connects the upper slat of the lower group of slats to the lower slat of the upper group of slats, the parts being shown in an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4:c4a: of Figure 3 showing a top plan view of a portion of the slat 9 and showing the bracket and link connected therewith and showing the slot in the slat through which the link extends and through which it can move up and down.

Figure 5 is a detail view of a modified form of the bracket.

Figure 6 is a detail view of a chain and two adjacent slats connected thereby, the slats being the adjacent slats of two groups of slats, this being a modification of the connection between groups of slats shown in Figure 3.

Figure! showsthe two adjacent slats of the two groups of slats, the groups being connected by a hinge having two leaves the outer end of each leaf of the hinge being pivotally connected to a bracket on the adjacent slat. This is a further modification of the connection shown in Figure 3.

In the drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts.

Reference numeral I, I indicates the slats of the upper group of the Venetian blind and numeral 2, 2 indicates the slats of the lower group of the Venetian blind. The assembly has the usual supporting bar 3 at the top and the usual tilting bar 4 at the top. The cords 5 run through suitable grooves in the supporting bar 3 and are used for raising and lowering the slats collectively. The cords 5 extend through all of the slats and are attached to the bottom slat. See Figures 1 and 4. 6 indicates the cord by which the slats are tilted in the usual manner, I indicates the ladder tape by which the slats are held in suspension, it being understood that in the ordinary Venetian blind there are two or more of these ladder tapes. In the blind which contains my invention shown herein, the slats are divided into two groups in which reference numeral 8 indicates the bottom slat of the upper group and 9 indicates the top slat of the lower group.

It will be understood that the ladder tapes 1 of the upper group move independent of the ladder tapes Ia of the lower group, or can be entirely disconnected therefrom, but the ladder tapes I must be firmly fastened to the bottom slat 8 of its upper group and the ladder tapes la must be firmly fastened to the top slat 9 of its lower group, dots 1b, lb being shown on the drawing in Figures 1 and 3 for the purpose of indicating any suitable means of fastening such as tacks etc. If the ladder tapes run through continuously, then some slack must be left in the tapes between the slats Band 9 so that the slats 8 and 9 can turn independently of each other.

In Figure 2 I have shown a bracket [0 fastened to the lower slat. The end of this bracket is forked so that the cord II can be engaged therein. This cord runs over an eye I2 at the top from which it extends downwardly and is connected to an eye l3 on the underside of the top slat 9 of the lower group. By pulling this cord ll downwardly the slat 9 and all of the slats below it will turn in one direction independent of the slats in the upper section, it being understood that the slats in the upper group will be turned by the cord 6 in the manner commonly heretofore used.

It will also be understood that the ladder tapes of the upper group do not directly support the slats of the lower section or group. The slats of the lower group are supported by two or more links which connect the slat 9 to the slat 8, the links being connected to each of the slats on its center line. The slat 9 in this manner is supported through the links by the ladder tapes of the upper group. This connection between the groups on the center line of the two slats and independent of the ladder tapes of the upper group is the distinguishing feature of this in'ven tion. The ladder tapes of the upper group support the slats of the lower group through the links.

For this purpose I use the slots that are normally formed near the end of each of the slats and through which the cords extend for the purpose of pulling the slats up'togetheninto' a bunch. I make each of the slots in theslats 8 and 9 a little Wider in the middle on one side as indicated at IS in Figure 4. On each of the slats 8 and 9 I fasten brackets H. The two Or more brackets I'i being on the underside of the slat 8 and the two or more brackets ll bein on the upper side of the slat 9. Each ofthese brackets is shaped like a T on the end and on the stem of the T a slotted link iii engages connesting two brackets together near one end of the slats. A similar arrangement (not shown) is used near the other end of the slats 8 and 9 so that by these brackets and the link [8- the slat 9 is supported from the slat 8 at both ends and may be supported in the middleas well.-

The ladder tape between the slats 8 and 9 is either cut or the ends of it are joined together with slack, so that the slat 9 and all the slats below it can turn on a central axis independent of the slat 8 and all of the slats above the slat can turn on a central axis independent-of the slat 9. It will be understood that the cord 6 heretofore used will turn the upper group of slats and to turn the lower group of slats the cord H should be specially provided, if it is desired to lock the slats of the lower group in the turned position, but it will also be understood that the slats in the lower group can be turned manually without the use of the cord II.

It will also be understoodthat when the slats are drawn up into a hunch'the link [8 will ex-- tend through the slots in several of the slats.

As shown in Figure 5 the bracket Il may be replaced .by a bracket on the outer end of which is a round head 21 connected by a-narrow neck to the body of the bracket.

In Figure 6 I have shown a modification of the bracket and link shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. In this case the slats 8 and 9 are connected together near each end by a chain 25; The ends of the chain can be fastened in any suitable manner to the centerline of the slats 8 and 9 being connected to the underside of the slat 8 and tothe top of the slat 9. The slats can be connected-together loosely by the ladder tape as above explainedor the ladder tapebetween the two slats can be out.

In Figure? I have showna hinge connection between the slats 8 and 9 in which case the hinge fastened on the'unde'rside of theslat8'and the The 4 left 32 is fastened to the bracket 34 on the top of the slat 9.

The pivotal connection to each slat is made on the center line of the slat so that the lower slat will be in balance and will be in line with the slat above it, it being also understood that the connection shown in Figures 3, 4, 6 and I will be duplicated near the other end of the slats 8 and 9 so that the slat 9 will be suspended at both ends from the slat 8 and will be free to turn on its center line independent of the slat 9. It is also understood that a similar suspension can be used in the middle of slats 8 and 9.

I claim:

1. In a Venetian blind the combination of a series of slats said slats. being of like cross section from top to bottom, ladder tapes supporting said slats, each ladder tape being divided into an upper and lower section the slats of each section being supported through said tapes by the top slat of each section, links independent of said ladder tapes connected to the lower slat of the upper section on its longitudinal central line, and connected to the upper slat of the lower section on its longitudinal central line, the said lower slat supporting the slat thereby, brackets on each of the slats, each of said brackets having a T-shaped head, each of the links having a slot therein which is adapted to engage with the stem of the upper and lower T-shaped head, a bottom slat on the lower section and a supporting bar at the top of the upper section, cordsattached to said bottom slat and running up through suitable openings in the slats of both sections and through a suitable groove in the suporting bar for the purpose of raising and lowering all of the slats collectively.

2. In a Venetian blind, the combination of a series of slats, said slats being of like cross-section from top to bottom and correspondingly slotted transversely adjacent their ends to receive lifting cords, ladder tapes supporting said slats in the region of said slots, said slats being divided into an upper group and a lower 1 group, lifting cords extending through said slots to the lowermost slat, elongated slotted vertical extending links connecting the lower slat of the upper group and the upper slat of the lower group on its longitudinal central line, and forming sole supports for the immediately adjacent upper slat'of the lower group from the said lower slat of the upper group, each of said links extending through the adjacent slots of said lower and upper slats and adapted to extend into the slots of other adjacent slats when the-slats are drawn together, the ladder tapes adjoining the lower group being connected to and supported by the upper slat of the lower group, the slats of the lower group being adapted to turn on their horizontal axes independent of the slats of the upper group.

3. In a Venetian blind, the combination of a series of slats, said slats being of like cross-section from top to bottom and correspondingly slotted transversely adjacent their ends to receive lifting cords, ladder tapes supporting said slats in the region of said slots, said slats being divided into an upper group and a lower group, lifting cords extending through said slots to the lowermost slat, elongated slotted vertical extending links connecting the lower slat of the upper group and the upper slat of the lower group on its longitudinal central line, and forming sole supports for the immediately adjacent upper slat of the lower group from the said 5 lower slat of the upper group, each of said links extending through the adjacent slots of said lower and upper slats and adapted to extend into the slots of other adjacent slats when the slats are drawn together, the ladder tapes adjoining the lower group being connected to and supported by the upper slat of the lower group, the

slats of the lower group being adapted to turn on their horizontal axes independent of the slats i and extending from one edge of the upper slatof the lower group over said guide, and means on a slat of the lower group for releasably holding the free end position of said last-named cord.

JAMES B. WHITTAKE'R.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 340,960 Stevens Apr. 2'7, 1886 2,276,425 Slattery Mar. 17, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,288 Great Britain 1907 

